Central Asia

The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia ( UNRCCA) was established in December 2007 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to assist and support the five countries of Central Asia -- Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan -- build their conflict prevention capacities through enhanced dialogue, confidence-building measures and genuine partnership in order to respond to existing threats and emerging challenges in the region. The Center was established at the request of the five countries and is headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Petko Draganov, who was recently named to succeed outgoing Special Representative Miroslav Jenča.

Four priority areas

UNRCCA's Program of Action for 2015-2017 was adopted in consultation with the five countries of the region, and includes four priority areas: (i) Transnational threats and challenges; (ii) Management of common natural resources; (iii) Domestic factors affecting the region; and (iv) Building national/regional conflict prevention capacities.

A previous DPA-led political mission in the region, the United Nations Tajikistan Office of Peace-building (UNTOP), completed its mandate in 2007 after seven years of efforts to help Tajikistan consolidate peace and stability in the aftermath of a civil war.